traditions regarding the dog. The Esquimaux, a nation inhabiting the
polar regions, have a singular fable amongst them respecting the
origin of the Dog-Rib Indians, a tribe which inhabits the northern
confines of the American continent. It is thus detailed in Captain
Franklin's "Second Journey to the Polar Sea:"--

"For a long time Chapawee's descendants were united as one family, but
at length some young men being accidentally killed in a game, a
quarrel ensued, and a general dispersion of mankind took place. One
Indian fixed his residence on the borders of the lake, taking with him
a dog big with young. The pups in due time were littered, and the
Indian, when he went out to fish, carefully tied them up to prevent
their straying. Several times, as he approached his tent, he heard a
noise of children talking and playing; but on entering it, he only
perceived the pups tied up as usual. His curiosity being excited by
the voices he had heard, he determined to watch; and one day
pretending to go out and fish, according to custom, he concealed
himself in a convenient place. In a short time he again heard voices,
and rushing suddenly into the tent, beheld some beautiful children
sporting and laughing, with the dog-skins lying by their side. He
threw the skins into the fire, and the children, retaining their
proper forms, grew up, and were the ancestors of the Dog-Rib nation."

Captain Lyon, who had so many opportunities of studying the habits of
the Esquimaux dog, has given so interesting an account of it that I
cannot do better than quote his own words:--

"Having myself possessed, during our hard winter, a team of eleven
fine dogs, I was enabled to become better acquainted with their good
qualities than could possibly have been the case by the casual visits
of the Esquimaux to the ships. The form of the Esquimaux dog is very
similar to that of our shepherds' dog in England, but it is more
muscular and broad-chested, owing to the constant and severe work to
which he is brought up. His ears are pointed, and the aspect of the
head is somewhat savage. In size a fine dog is about the height of the
Newfoundland breed, but broad like a mastiff in every part except the
nose. The hair of the coat is in summer, as well as in winter, very
long, but during the cold season a soft, downy under-covering is
found, which does not appear in warm weather. Young dogs are put into
harness as soon as they can walk, and being tied up, soon ac